California could become the first state in the country to ban plastic shopping bags. A bill to do just that is being amended to gain support from legislators, writes Ed Joyce of San Diego’s KPBS. The legislation would require reusable cloth bags and prohibit grocery, liquor and convenience stores from handing out plastic bags. Click here to keep reading.

Chance of Rain adds: For the history of Assembly Bill 1998 , which has been returned to a state senate committee for tweaking, click here. For the Heal the Bay Action Alert and how to encourage your senator to support the bill, click here. For arguments on behalf of the bill from sponsor Assemblywoman Julia Brownley and three beautiful actresses, click here. For information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, here and for the UC Davis Marine Debris Project, here.